Short-Term Work Visa in South Africa

A Short-Term Work Visa in South Africa is ideal for people who need to be in the country for a few weeks or months to carry out work or similarly related business.

This Visa is classified as a “Visitors Visa with Work Authorisation” that allows Short Term Work, is known as the Section 11(2) Visitors Visa and it is valid for up to 3 Months, depending on the basis and length of your work travel.

Technically you are allowed to enter South Africa and attend meetings, conferences, or board meetings on ‘other’ types of visitor visas.
However, if you engage in proper work-related activities in South Africa,
you must apply for an 11(2) Short-Term Work Visa.

Your spouse or children must apply for the Appropriate Visa Types if they accompany you to South Africa. Contact an IBN immigration consultant to advise you on the forms you need.

To apply for a South African Section 11(2) Short-term Work Visa, The Applicant must provide the following forms and documents:

• A Completed Visa Application Form (DHA-84) Form 11 in BLACK ink only.
• Two recent colour passport size photographs (4.5cm x 3.5 cm – Close up of your head and top of your shoulder so your the face takes up 80% of the photograph)
• Full Name (Certified Copy of ID)
• Date of Birth (Certified Copy of ID)
• Nationality
• Passport Number (Certified Copy of Passport)
• 3x Months Certified and Recent Bank Statements
• Purpose of Work/Visit
• Nature of Work/Visit
• Qualifications and Skills Required for this Work/Visit including the applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV).
• Work/Visit Duration (Start and End Dates)
• Place of Work
• Proof of Remuneration/Pay
• Proof of return, which is your return airline ticket.
• Proof of accommodation in South Africa.

Documents for visa application required by the Local Business/Receiving Entity

1. Letters from the entity abroad and South Africa confirming the short-term transfer to the country.
   These letters should contain the following Applicant Information:
2. Certified Copy of Employment Contract defining the scope and responsibilities of the applicant’s role
3. Work/Visit Duration (Start and End Dates)
4. Place of Work
5. Employer/Contact Information:
• Name of Employer/Institution
• Registration Certficates
• CIPC Registration
• SARS Registration
• Certified ID Copy of the Signatory Person at the Receiving Business/Entity
• Contact Details (Address, Phone, Email)

Visa Application Fees

Visa application fees are charged by either the South African Department of Home Affairs and the local embassy processing your application, or by VFS when there is a corresponding office availabe in the location you are emigrating from.

Examples

Short-Term Work Visa in the United States

Cost: $36

Short-Term Work Visa in the United Kingdom

Visa Fee: £35.00 (paid in person at the visa application center)

Service Charge: £40.00 (inclusive of VAT) per application (paid online only)
Special Delivery (Optional): £14.95 (paid online or at the center – mandatory in Manchester and Edinburgh)
SMS Updates (Optional): £1.95 (paid online or in person at VFS)

**Important Note:** The visa application fee is non-refundable and varies depending on the embassy or VFS center.

Additional Costs

These costs are not directly related to the visa application but may be incurred during the process:

• Medical examination (if required): Cost depends on nationality and length of stay.
  For Example:
  Obtaining a Medical Certificate in the United Kingdom – the cost is £199 (includes VAT).

Obtaining a Medical Certificate in the United States of America – the cost is $225 (includes VAT).

• Travel insurance with a cost of approximately $1800 in the United Sates for the duration of 1 year (This is for 2x adults and 2x children – highly recommended, not mandatory)
• Courier fees with a Cost of approximately $30-$50 (optional, for sending the application)
• Accommodation costs (applicant’s responsibility during their stay)

The cost of these additional items will vary depending on the individual circumstances.

Your immigration consultant will provide an estimate on all fees required to complete the application process. This way, you won’t be surprised by hidden costs. We provide you with a comprehensive estimate based on international financial markets and up-to-date information regarding costs from the relevant government departments.

Important Note: A Section 11(2) visa is for short-term, urgent work needs only, with a maximum stay of 90 days. It can only be extended while in South Africa, and you cannot apply for a second extension of a Section 11.2 visa in the same calendar year.
Here’s a breakdown of the application process:

Confirm Eligibility:

Ensure your work falls under the category allowed for a Section 11(2) visa. This typically includes short-term tasks like training, installation, or film production. Excluded categories include freelance work, project management, and ongoing employment.


1. Gather Required Documents:
• Valid Passport: Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended departure from South Africa and have two blank pages for visa stamping.
• Completed Application Form (DHA-84): Download the form from the South African Department of Home Affairs website (https://www.dha.gov.za/) and fill it out in black ink.
• Two Passport-Sized Photos: Recent color photos with a clear headshot on a light background.
• Letter of Invitation: A formal letter from the South African company inviting you and outlining the purpose, nature, and duration of your work.
• Proof of Accommodation: Hotel reservations or a letter from a host in South Africa confirming your stay.
• Proof of Funds: Bank statements for the past 3 months demonstrating sufficient financial resources to support yourself during your stay.
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate (if applicable): Required if traveling from a country with a risk of yellow fever.
  Additional Documents): (These can be found above) Depending on your specific situation, additional documents like your CV, qualifications, permission letters, or medical certificates are required.

Schedule an Appointment:

Contact the nearest South African embassy or consulate in your home country to schedule an appointment for visa application submission. You can find their contact information on the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation website (DIRCO). Otherwise we have prepared a submission location guide for you, where each an every South African Representation Abroad, can be found.
When there is a VFS available in your country, this is another path to applying for your Section 11.2 Visitor’s Visa (Short-Term Work Visa)

Attend Appointment and Submit Application:

Visit the embassy/consulate on your scheduled appointment date and submit your completed application package along with the required fees.
You may be interviewed by an immigration officer to verify your information and purpose of travel.

Wait for Processing:

Processing times can vary, but typically take 5-10 working days. The embassy/consulate will inform you of the decision.


2. Upon Approval:


If successful, you’ll receive your passport with the Section 11.2 visa stamped. You can then travel to South Africa for the authorized duration of your short-term work.

Important Note: Obtaining a temporary residence permit after arrival is not required for a Section 11.2 visa.

Additional Resources:

1. South African Department of Home Affairs
2. South African Embassy/Consulate in your home country
3. VFS (Visa Facilitation Services)
4. There is a current backlog for All Visa Extensions at DHA, this means that you should avoid incorrect or incomplete Visa Extension Submissions.

Disclaimer

At IBN Immigration Solutions, we adhere to Google’s standards for transparency. As a private immigration firm, we follow the regulations outlined in the Immigration Act of South Africa. We are not affiliated with the South African government. Our clients pay for our expertise in handling applications for both temporary and permanent residency. While forms required during the process can be obtained for free at any Department of Home Affairs office, we also provide them as part of our service. Those who prefer to deal directly with the Department of Home Affairs can visit their website at www.dha.gov.za/immigration-services/